Device for supporting suspended form systems for use in the construction of concretestructures



Nov. 22, 1966 w. J. LYNCH 3,286,976

' DEVICEFOR SUPPORTING SUSPENDED FORM SYSTEMS FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 20, 1964 Fig William J Lynch 1N VENTOR.

Y 2mm WWW 3m United States Patent 3,286,976 DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING SUSPENDED FORM SYSTEMS FOR USE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES William J. Lynch, 2202 Lorraine Court, Savannah, Ga. Filed Oct. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 405,122 Claims. (Cl. 249-219) The instant invention generally relates to a device for supporting form systems used in the construction of concrete structures, and is more particularly concerned with a support bracket releasably mountable upon a column of the support of a superimposed form system therefrom.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a device for effecting a safe, economical and accurate positioning of a form system through the utilization of an adjustable mounting bracket and washer unit.

In conjunction with the above object, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a form support which effects a positive supporting of a form system directly from previously poured concrete columns, thereby eliminating much of the more conventionally utilized vertical bracing studs and the like, this in turn resulting in a substantially clear floor area beneath the form system itself.

In addition, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide a supporting bracket which can, without a complete removal thereof, be lowered or drawn away from the form system itself so as to permit a removal of the form members.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant invent-ion 'to provide a supporting bracket which is so constructed as to provide a positive rigid mount for a superimposed form system with the rigidity of the mount actually increasing with an increase in the superimposed load.

Also, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a support device which is capable of being economically manufactured, the reusable nature of the device also contributing significantly to a substantial reduction in the cost of formwork erection and removal.

Furthermore, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a mounting washer shaped for supporting cooperation with the bracket, so as to define, with the bracket, a novel support unit.

In achieving the above objects, it is contemplated that the support device of the instant invention comprise a bracket with this bracket including a vertical mounting flange and an integral horizontal support flange projecting perpendicularly from the upper end of the mounting flange. The mounting flange is to be positioned against a vertical supporting surface, such as a column face, and is to be rigidly locked thereto by suitable bolt or tie rod means projecting from the support and through themounting flange. In order to accommodate the mounting bolt, a vertically elongated slot is provided within the mounting flange with the elongated nature of the slot facilitating an adjustment of the bracket subsequent to a mounting thereof. The inner face of the mounting flange, that face opposite the face engaged against the support or supporting column, is tapered so as to diverge upwardly relative to the rear or outer face of the mounting flange upwardly from the lower edge thereof with this tapered face being complemented by a reversely tapered face on a washer which is engaged thereagainst and through which the mounting bolt projects. The washer in turn includes a vertical outer face paralleling the outer face of the mounting flange so as to provide for a positive seat for the bolt nut. At the same time, the tapered faces on the mounting flange and washer provide a wedging action which resists any tendency for the support bracket to shift downwardly, and in this manner, tends to increase the stability of the bracket as the load thereon increases. Other features which contribute to the uniqueness of the support bracket include form beam retaining lugs and apertures through the bracket mounting flange for the mounting of guiding or stabilizing clips which are to engage the support column.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the support bracket of the instant invention with the cooperating washer exploded therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the support bracket; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the support bracket and washer mounted upon a concrete column in operative position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the support bracket of the instant invention, reference numeral 12 being used to designate the washer utilized in conjunction therewith.

The bracket 10 consists of a vertical mounting flange 14 and a horizontal support flange 16 integral with the upper edge of the mounting flange 14 and projecting perpendicularly therefrom.

The bracket 10 is to be positioned against and aflixed to the vertical face 18 of a concrete column 20 or the like in a manner whereby the horizontal support flange 16 will project forwardly from the support column 20 for the reception of a member, such as beam 22, of the form system. The engagement of the bracket with the vertical face 18 of the column 20 is to be effected by a projecting tie rod, anchoring bolt, or the like 24 which is rigidly aflixed to the column 20 and projects therefrom through a vertically elongated mounting slot 26 in the mounting flange 14, as well as through a bolt accommodating hole 28 through the washer 12.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the inner face 30' of the vertical mounting flange 14 diverges upwardly from the outer face 32 of the flange 14 from the lower end'of the mounting flange 14 to the horizontal supporting flange 16. This inclined 'face 39 is complemented by an oppositely inclined inner face 34 on the washer 12 which, when positioned against the inclined face 30 of the flange 14, presents a ver-tical outer face 36 which parallels the vertical outer face 32 of the flange 14. This vertical outer face 36 of the washer 12 is of significance in providing a flat seating means for the nut or the like 38 which is to be releasably engaged with the rod or bolt 24 as the bracket 10 is clamped to the column 20.

In order to insure an automatic proper positioning of the washer 12 on the anchoring member 24, the aperture 28 therethrough has been provided above the center of gravity, that is it has been located so as to position a major portion of the weight of the washer toward the thicker side thereof. In this manner, the washer will automatically gravitate to the position shown in FIGURE 3 so as to immediately properly orientate the complementary inclined faces 30 and 34.

Other significant features of the support unit include a pair of integral vertically projecting retaining lugs 40 along the free edge of the support flange 16, these lugs 40 having holes 42 therethrough for the reception of driven fasteners 44 utilized to stabilize a received beam or the like 22. In addition, the bracket 10 includes an apersupport flange for the adjustable From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a de-,

vice capable of providing an extremely stable and safe formwork suport has been set forth. The tapered configuration of the mounting washer 12, in conjunction with the inclined face 30 of the mounting flange 14 operates so as to, in response to an increase in the load thereon, ac-

V tua-lly effect a tighter clamping of the bracket 14 itself against the support column 20 in that any downward movement of the bracket will result in a tighter wedging of the mounting flange 14 between the washer 12 and the vertical face 18 of the support column 20-. Further, withthis particular construction, it will be appreci-.

ated that there will be no possibility of the device slipping or unexpectedly moving downward. Another significant advantage residing in the particular support bracket and washer unit of the instant invention is the fact that a vertical adjustment thereof involves a simple matter of loosening the anchor bolt nut 38 and vertically moving the bracket. Further, when it becomes necessary to remove the formwork, the bracket 10' need merely be shifted downward, also through a loosening of the anchor bolt nut 38, with the bracket itself acting in the manner of a backup member so as to prevent any sudden or complete collapse of the formwork during the dismantling process.

While not specifically noted supra, it should be appreciated that the support device of the instant invention can be made in any suitable manner, such as by casting or welding, and of any appropriate material such as iron, steel, ductile iron, aluminum, etc., depending upon the requirements of the design load to be transferred to the 7 support column 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and. changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A supportdevice for suspended forms comprising a bracket, said bracket including a mounting flange and a support flange, said flanges being integrally connected and orientated at substantially right angles to each other, said bracket being positionable against a vertical surface with the mounting flange generally paralleling the surface and with the support flange projecting substantially horizontally outward from the surface at the upper edge of said mounting flange, said mounting flange including at least one elongated slot therethrough, said slot extending a portion of the distance between the free edge of the mounting flange and the edge thereof connected to the reception of a rod-like anchoring member therethrough, said supporting flange including at least one retaining lug fixed thereto and projecting perpendicularly therefrom adjacent the free edge thereof, said mounting flange including an outer face and an inner face, said outer face constituting the surface engaging face, at least that portion of said inner face about said slot diverging relative to the outer face from the free edge of the mounting flange to the supporting flange so as to define a tapered progressively thickening mounting flange section between the free edge of the mounting flange and the supporting flange, and a mounting washer engageable in overlying relationto the diverg ing portion of the inner face, said washer having an aperture defined therein for reception of a rod-like anchoring member therethrough, said washer being of greater width than said slot so as to ,preclude passage there-= through, said washer being tapered and including inner and outer faces diverging relative to each other from one edge of the washer to the other, the taper of the washer complementing the taper of the mounting flange por-; tion whereby upon positioning the inner face of the wash-.

er against the inner face of the mounting flange, the outer face of the washer will parallel the outer face, of the mounting flange.

2. The support device of claim 1 wherein a major poring flange has at least one aperture defined therein ad-' jacent the side thereof for the selective mounting, of a projecting rotation preventing member. for the bracket.-

4. For use in supporting a form beam froma support member having a vertical surface, a bracket, said bracket;

having a vertical flange, said vertical flange having first and second opposed flat faces, the first face thereof being positioned against said vertical surface, a horizontal flange fixed to the upper edge of said vertical flange and project:

ing outwardly therefrom beyond the sccond face, said. second face diverging from the. first face upwardly from the lower edge of the vertical flange so as to' define ,a.

tapered cross section, at least one vertical slot in said vertical flange, a tapered washer overlying said second face, the opposed faces of the washer diverging downwardly from the upper edge thereof, said washer having an aperture defined therein in alignment with the flange slot, and a selectively releasable time member extending through said washer aperture and flange slot and anchored into said support member for clamping said vertical flange between said washer and said support member.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the major portion of the weight of. said washer is located below said aperture so as to maintain the proper rotational position of the tapered washer on the tie member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,229,427 6/ 1917 Erismann 248---243 2,904,870 9/ 1959 Hillberg 249191 FOREIGN PATENTS 180,204 7/1962 Sweden.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

G. A. KAP, R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SUPPORT DEVICE FOR SUSPENDED FORMS COMPRISING A BRACKET, SAID BRACKET INCLUDING A MOUNTING FLANGE AND A SUPPORT FLANGE, SAID FLANGES BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED AND ORIENTATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER, SAID BRACKET BEING POSITIONABLE AGAINST A VERTICAL SURFACE WITH THE MOUNTING FLANGE GENERALLY PARALLELING THE SURFACE AND WITH THE SUPPORT FLANGE PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE SURFACE AT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID MOUNTING FLANGE, SAID MOUNTING FLANGES INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED SLOT THERETHROUGH, SAID SLOT EXTENDING A PORTION OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FREE EDGE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE AND THE EDGE THEREOF CONNECTED TO THE SUPPORT FLANGE FOR THE ADJUSTABLE RECEPTION OF A ROD-LIKE ANCHORING MEMBER THERETHROUGH, SAID SUPPORTING FLANGE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE RETAINING LUG FIXED THERETO AND PROJECTING PERPENDICULARLY THEREFROM ADJACENT THE FREE EDGE THEREOF, SAID MOUNTING FLANGE INCLUDING AN OUTER FACE AND AN INNER FACE, SAID OUTER FACE CONSTITUTING THE SURFACE ENGAGING FACE, AT LEAST THAT PORTION OF SAID INNER FACE ABOUT SAID SLOT DIVERGING RELATIVE TO THE OUTER FACE FROM THE FREE EDGE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE TO THE SUPPORTING FLANGE SO AS TO DEFINE A TAPERED PROGRESSIVELY THICKENING MOUNTING FLANGE SECTION BETWEEN THE FREE EDGE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE AND THE SUPPORTING FLANGE, AND A MOUNTING WASHER ENGAGEABLE IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE DIVERGING PORTION OF THE INNER FACE, SAID WASHER HAVING AN APERTURE DEFINED THEREIN FOR RECEPTION OF A ROD-LIKE ANCHORING MEMBER THERETHROUGH, SAID WASHER BEING OF GREATER WIDTH THAN SAID SLOT SO AS TO PRECLUDE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, SAID WASHER BEING TAPERED AND INCLUDING INNER AND OUTER FACES DIVERGING RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER FROM ONE EDGE OF THE WASHER TO THE OTHER, THE TAPER OF THE WASHER COMPLEMENTING THE TAPER OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE PORTION WHEREBY UPON POISITIONING THE INNER FACE OF THE WASHER AGAINST THE INNER FACE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE, THE OUTER FACE OF THE WASHER WILL PARALLEL THE OUTER FACE OF THE MOUNTING FLANGE. 